Pumaren downplays his first win against Ayo

Last updated Sep 22, 2018

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Adamson University head coach Franz Pumaren downplayed the idea of beating Aldin Ayo. Pumaren finally tallied his first win versus Ayo, after the Soaring Falcons stopped the gritty University of Santo Tomas, 77-71, Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum.

“It didn’t even enter my mind to be honest. I’ve been in college basketball for so long,” said Pumaren, a five-time UAAP champion coach.

“I’ve been coaching since I was nineteen years old. It’s part of the job. You’re going to play the whole seven teams. We are still opponents in the court but off it, nothing personal.”

Pumaren was well-known for his full-court press. It played well int heir victory, forcing UST to commit season-high 27 turnovers that turned into 29 points.

“What’s so funny is people are saying that I’m using the same press, using the same system,” Pumaren noticed.

“But if you look at it closely, I’ve been adjusting my defense, it depends on my materials, it depends on the teams that we are playing.”

Pumaren led the Green Archers to a five championship, including a four-peat from 1998 to 2001. Now, he wants to do the same for Adamson, expecting selfless basketball.

“For us to be successful this year is to continue what we are doing. We just have to stay the course, stay within the system and our program,” he said.

“No individual player can help us win games. It’s going to be a team effort for us to beat the other team.”